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SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Historical Society is partnering with State & Main Coffee to present a pop-up exhibit featuring some historical artifacts from the Scottville Clown Band. The exhibit features a bass drum purchased by band founder Raymond Schulte in 1930, “Big George” Wilson’s bathing suit costume, an original “claribone” along with other items and photographs.
The items are normally housed at the Scottville Clown Band Museum of Music located at Historic White Pine Village which is closed for the season.
The Scottville Clown Band’s roots go back to 1903 with the formation of the Scottville Merchants’ Band. Following a hiatus during World War II, the band was re-organized in 1947 and formally called the Scottville Clown Band. Today, the band has over 200 members who come from all over Michigan and beyond. It performs 30 to 40 times a year around the state. Additionally, it is a charitable non-profit organization that annually provides almost $20,000 in grants and scholarships to youth music education.
“One of our goals at the Historical Society is to bring our exhibits out to other parts of the county,” said Rob Alway, chairman of the society’s collections committee. “Starting the pop-up exhibits with the Scottville Clown Band in a historic Scottville building just seemed appropriate.” Alway is also a life member and treasurer of the Scottville Clown Band.
State & Main Coffee is located in the historic People’s State Bank of Scottville building at 101 N. Main St. It is owned by Lisa and Paul Cooper and opened in October 2024.
“We are excited to feature the heritage of Scottville in our building,” Lisa Cooper said. “We created this coffee shop as a gathering space for the community and holding exhibits here is another great way to share Scottville’s rich history.”
Alway said the Historical Society plans to hold more exhibits at State & Main and possibly other locations around the county.
The Mason County Historical Society was founded in 1937. Prior to having a permanent museum, in the early 1950s, the Society would hold traveling exhibits at various public locations.
“In many ways the pop-up exhibits are part of the Society’s heritage,” said Rebecca Berringer, executive director the Historical Society. “This is a great way to share the nearly 150,000 artifacts in our collection with the public.”
The Mason County Historical Society is a non-profit charitable organization that operates three facilities: The Rose Hawley Archives and Mason County Emporium & Sweet Shop, 130 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington, Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, 217 S. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington, and Historic White Pine Village, 1687 S. Lakeshore Dr., Pere Marquette Township.
Read more about the Historical Society here.
State & Main Coffee is open Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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